URMC Saunders Center Opens New Orthopedics Facility in Rochester

The $277 million, 330,000-square-foot center is the largest and most comprehensive orthopedic facility in the Northeastern U.S.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) has completed construction of the Saunders Center for Orthopedics and Physical Performance, a new $277 million, 330,000-square-foot facility that is the largest and most comprehensive orthopedic center in the Northeastern United States. The center offers specialized treatment for a wide range of bone and muscle conditions, advanced diagnostic imaging, physical therapy, and training programs for future orthopedic surgeons, with a focus on increasing representation of women in the field.

Why it matters

The Saunders Center's expansion of URMC's orthopedic capabilities represents a significant investment in providing advanced, patient-focused care to the Rochester community. The facility's emphasis on innovation, education, and diversity in the field of orthopedics positions it as a leading center for orthopedic treatment and research in the region.

The details

The Saunders Center features 144 exam rooms, eight operating rooms with the potential to expand to 14, and specialized spaces for training future orthopedic surgeons, including a focus on increasing the representation of women in the field. The center offers a comprehensive suite of services, including ambulatory surgery, advanced diagnostic imaging, physical therapy, athletic training, motion analysis, and customized prosthetics and assistive devices.

  • The Saunders Center ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on February 21, 2026.
  • The center's clinic hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with urgent care available during those same hours by appointment. After-hours urgent care is offered Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., also by appointment.

The players

University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC)

A leading academic medical center and the largest provider of specialty and primary care services in the Rochester, New York region.

Dr. Paul Rubery

A faculty member at URMC who highlighted the center's focus on increasing the representation of women in the field of orthopedic surgery.

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What they’re saying

“We're having medical students who happen to be women from across Western New York, Buffalo, and Syracuse here today to learn from my female surgical faculty how you become an orthopedic surgeon. It's a very special event and it's exactly why we built this space.”

— Dr. Paul Rubery, URMC Faculty (newsdirectory3.com)

What’s next

The Saunders Center plans to continue expanding its services and capacity to meet the growing demand for advanced orthopedic care in the region.

The takeaway

The Saunders Center's focus on providing comprehensive, patient-centered orthopedic care, fostering diversity in the field, and advancing medical education and research positions it as a leading hub for innovation in orthopedic medicine in the Northeastern United States.